Jan Vedder's Wife Part 14

He was not displeased when next day one of his old comrades told him in a pawkie, meaning way, that he had "seen him walking with Glumm's handsome widow." A man nearly sixty is just as ready to suppose himself fascinating as a man of twenty. Peter had his courtiers, and they soon found out that he liked to be twitted about Suneva; in a little while a marriage between the handsome widow and the rich merchant was regarded as a very probable event.

When once the thought of love and marriage has taken root in a man's heart it grows rapidly. The sight of Suneva became daily more pleasant to Peter. Every time she came to the store he liked her better. He took care to let her see this, and he was satisfied to observe that his attentions did not prevent her visits.

In a few weeks he had quite made up his mind; he was only watching for a favorable opportunity to influence Suneva. In August, at the Fisherman's Foy, it came. Peter was walking home one night, a little later than usual, and he met Suneva upon the moor. His face showed his satisfaction. "Long have I watched for this hour," he said; "now thou must walk with me a little, for I have again some thing to say to thee. Where hast thou been, Suneva?"

"Well, then, I took charge of Widow Thorkel's knitting to sell it for her. She is bedridden, thou knows. I got a good price for her, and have been to carry her the money."

"Thou art a kind woman. Now, then, be kind to me also. I want to have thee for my wife."

"What will thy daughter say to that? She never liked me--nor have I much liked her."

"It will be long ere I ask my daughter if I shall do this or that. It is thee I ask. Wilt thou be my wife, Suneva?"

"It would not be a bad thing."

"It would be a very good thing for me, and for thee also. I should have thy pleasant face, and thy good heart, and thy cheerful company at my fireside. I will be to thee a loving husband. I will give thee the house I live in, with all its plenis.h.i.+ng, and I will settle 70 a year on thee."

"That is but a little thing for thee to do."

"Then I will make it a 100 a year. Now what dost thou say?"

"I will marry thee, Peter, and I will do my duty to thee, and make thee happy." Then she put her hand in his, and he walked home with her.

Next day all Lerwick knew that Peter was going to marry Glumm's handsome widow.

CHAPTER IX.

JAN AT HIS POST.

"Then like an embryo bird One day, he knew not how, but G.o.d that morn Had p.r.i.c.ked his soul--he cracked his sh.e.l.ly case, and Claimed his due portion in a larger life.

Into new life he starts, surveys the world With bolder scope, and breathes more ample breath."

With a great sigh of content Jan resigned himself to rest when the parting was over; and "The Lapwing," with wind and tide in her favor, went almost flying down the black North Sea. The motion of the vessel and the scent of the salt breeze were like his mother's lap and his native air. He had cast off his old life like an old garment. Michael Snorro and Dr. Balloch were the only memories of it he desired to carry into his new one. But at the first hour he could not even think of them. He only wanted to sleep.

Very soon sleep came to him, steeped him from head to feet in forgetfulness, lulled him fathoms deep below the tide of life and feeling. It was after twelve the next noon when he opened his eyes.

Lord Lynne was sitting at the cabin table just opposite his berth. It took Jan two or three moments to remember where he was, and during them Lord Lynne looked up and smiled at him. Jan smiled back a smile frank and trustful as a child's. It established his position at once.

Lord Lynne had been wondering what that position was to be, and he had decided to let Jan's unconscious behavior settle it. Even an animal, or a bird, that trusts us, wins us. The face that Jan turned to Lord Lynne was just such a face as he would have turned to Snorro--it trusted every thing, it claimed every thing, and every thing was given it.

"You have had your health-sleep, Vedder; I dare say you are hungry now?"

"Very hungry," answered Jan. "Is it breakfast time?"

"You mean is it lunch time? You will have to put two meals into one.

Shall I order you some fresh fish, and eggs, and a broiled bird?"

"The thought of them is good."

"And some roast mutton and potatoes?"

"Yes, and plenty of tea if thou pleases."

My lord had his lunch while Jan ate his breakfast, and a very pleasant meal they made of it. The yacht was tossing and pitching a good deal, but they were leaving the islands behind and sailing fast toward smoother waters and brighter skies. Jan improved with every hour's flight, and he would gladly have left his berth had Lord Lynne permitted it.

"At Aberdeen," he said, "you shall go on sh.o.r.e, and see a physician.

Dr. Balloch thinks that he has treated you properly, but I promised him to make sure of it."

The decision at Aberdeen was highly favorable. Jan was a.s.sured that he might be on deck a few hours every day, with great advantage to his health. They remained in Aberdeen two days. On the second day a trunk bearing his name was brought on board. Lord Lynne was on sh.o.r.e at the time, but his valet had it taken to Jan's room and opened. It contained a quant.i.ty of linen and clothing.

Jan had a love for good clothing. He felt its influence, and without reasoning about the matter, felt that it influenced every one else.

When he had put on the linen, and a yachting suit with its gilt b.u.t.tons, and had knotted the handkerchief at his neck, he felt that in all eyes he was a different being from Vedder the fisherman.

It would have been a difficult matter to Lord Lynne to have given clothing to some men, but Jan had not a vulgar feeling. He made no protestations, no excuses, no promises of repayment; he was not offensively demonstrative in his grat.i.tude. He took the gift, as the gift had been given, with pleasure and confidence, and he looked handsome and n.o.ble in every thing he put on.

Lord Lynne was proud of him. He liked to see his crew watch Jan. He encouraged his valet to tell him what they said of him. Every one had invented some romance about the yacht's visitor; no one supposed him to be of less than n.o.ble birth. The cook had a theory that he was some prince who had got into trouble with his father. The secrecy with which he had been brought on board at midnight, his scarcely healed wound, the disguise of a fisherman's dress, were all regarded as positive proofs of some singular and romantic adventure. On board "The Lapwing" Jan was the central point of every man's interest and speculations.

And at this time, even Lord Lynne was a little in the dark regarding Jan. Dr. Balloch had only spoken of him as a young man going to ruin for want of some friends. Incidentally he had alluded to his matrimonial troubles, and, one evening when they were walking, he had pointed out Margaret Vedder. She was standing on the Troll Rock looking seaward. The level rays of the setting sun fell upon her. She stood, as it were, in a glory; and Lord Lynne had been much struck with her n.o.ble figure and with the set melancholy of her fine face.

So he knew that Jan had had trouble about his wife, and also that he had been wounded in a fight; and putting the two things together he made a perfectly natural inference. He was aware, also, that Margaret was Peter Fae's daughter and a probable heiress. If he thought of Jan's social position, he doubtless considered that only a Shetland gentleman would aspire to her hand. But he made no effort whatever to gain Jan's confidence; if he chose to give it, he would do so at the proper time, and without it they were very happy. For Lord Lynne had been a great traveler, and Jan never wearied of hearing about the places he had visited. With a map before him, he would follow every step up and down Europe. And across Asian seas, through Canadian cities, and the great plains of the West, the two men in memory and imagination went together.

Nothing was said of Jan's future; he asked no questions, gave no hints, exhibited no anxiety. He took his holiday in holiday spirit, and Lord Lynne understood and appreciated the unselfishness and the gentlemanly feeling which dictated the apparent indifference. At Margate the yacht went into harbor. Lord Lynne expected letters there, which he said would decide his movements for the winter. He was silent and anxious when he landed; he was in a mood of reckless but a.s.sumed indifference when he came on board again.

After dinner he spread the large map on the saloon table, and said: "Vedder, what do you say to a few months' cruise in the Mediterranean? I am not wanted at home, and I should like to show you some of the places we have talked about. Suppose we touch at the great Spanish ports, at Genoa, Venice, Naples and Rome, and then break the winter among the Isles of Greece and the old Ionian cities?"

Jan's face beamed with delight; there was no need for him to speak.

"And," continued his lords.h.i.+p, "as I sleep a great deal in warm climates, I shall want a good sailor aboard. I saw by the way you handled the yacht during that breeze in 'The Wash,' that you are one.

Will you be my lieutenant this winter? I will pay you 100 a quarter; that will keep you in pocket money."

"That will be a great deal of money to me, and I shall be very glad to earn it so pleasantly."

"Then that settles matters for a few months--when we get back it will be time to buckle to work. Heigh-ho! Lieutenant, head 'The Lapwing'

for the Bay of Biscay, and we will set our faces toward suns.h.i.+ne, and cast care and useless regret behind our backs."

At Gibraltar Lord Lynne evidently expected letters, but they did not come. Every mail he was anxious and restless, every mail he was disappointed. At length he seemed to relinquish hope, and 'The Lapwing' proceeded on her voyage. One night they were drifting slowly off the coast of Spain. The full moon shone over a tranquil sea, and the wind blowing off sh.o.r.e, filled the sails with the perfume of orange blossoms. Lord Lynne had sent that day a boat into Valencia, hoping for letters, and had been again disappointed. As he walked the deck with Jan in the moonlight, he said sadly, "I feel much troubled to-night, Jan."

"Ever since we were in Gibraltar I have seen that thou hast some trouble, my lord. And I am sorry for thee; my own heart is aching to-night; for that reason I can feel for thy grief too."

"I wonder what trouble could come to a man hid away from life in such a quiet corner of the world as Shetland?"

"There is no corner too quiet, or too far away, for a woman to make sorrow in it."

"By every thing! You are right, Jan."

There was a few minutes' silence, and then Jan said: "Shall I tell thee what trouble came to me through a woman in Shetland?"